Rahmanullah Lakanwal the Afghan national charged with shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., previously served in a CIA-supported “zero unit” in Afghanistan. These elite teams worked with U.S. forces to target Taliban leaders and were evacuated in 2021 after the Taliban regained control. He was vetted several times and granted asylum by the government in April. (Story URL)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied reports claiming he ordered U.S. forces to “kill everybody” during a September 2nd strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean. He called the Washington Post story “fake news” and said it was “fabricated, inflammatory and derogatory reporting.” Senators from both parties said they will join forces to investigate the allegations. (Story URL)
President Trump announced Saturday that airspace over and around Venezuela is “closed in its entirety” as he weighs possible military action. Although Trump lacks authority to shut Venezuelan airspace, such warnings often precede airstrikes. The administration has deployed more than a dozen warships and about 15,000 troops, naming eight Venezuelan cartels as terrorist groups. (Story URL)
Thousands of U.S. travelers faced major flight disruptions over the Thanksgiving weekend due to severe weather and aircraft software updates. FlightAware reported 1,815 flight delays and 490 cancellations nationwide Sunday morning. A snowstorm in the Midwest and Great Lakes also brought up to 10 inches of snow in parts of Illinois and Iowa, prompting winter storm warnings from Montana to Ohio. (Story URL)
Americans spent a record $11.8 billion online this Black Friday, topping in-store sales. The total marked a 9.1% increase from 2024’s Black Friday spending. Online shoppers also spent $6.4 billion on Thanksgiving Day. RetailNext found in-store foot traffic fell 3.6% from 2024. There was also an 805% surge in AI-driven shopping traffic. The National Retail Federation will update its holiday outlook Tuesday. (Story URL)